Chess Puzzle #XUXgo — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2395 · Expert · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook e1; pawns a3/b2/c2/e7/g4/h4. Black: king f7; queen b7; rook e8; pawns a6/b5/d4/f5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen b7→b6).
  3. Best move: Qh6 — queen g5→h6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is h5.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/1q2Pk2/p5p1/1p3pQp/3p2PP/P7/1PP5/4R1K1 b - - 0 32

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.